What is Brute Force Attack?

A brute force attack is a method of trying every possible combination of characters until the correct one is found. This can be used to crack passwords, PINs, and other security measures.

For example, if an attacker wants to gain access to a computer system, they might try to brute-force the password by entering every possible combination of letters, numbers, and symbols until they find the correct one. This can be a very time-consuming process, but it is possible if the attacker has enough time and resources.

Brute forcing a WPS PIN is a method of trying every possible combination of 8 digits until the correct one is found. This can be used to gain access to a Wi-Fi network that has WPS enabled.

WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) is a feature that allows users to easily set up a Wi-Fi network by entering a PIN instead of a complex password. However, WPS has been shown to be vulnerable to brute-force attacks. To brute-force a WPS PIN, an attacker can use a tool like Reaver.

Reaver is a free and open-source tool that can be used to brute-force WPS PINs. Reaver works by sending a series of deauthentication packets to the target Wi-Fi router. These deauthentication packets force the router to disconnect all connected devices. Once all devices are disconnected, Reaver then attempts to connect to the router using the WPS PIN. If the PIN is incorrect, Reaver will try the next PIN in the list. This process continues until the correct PIN is found.

The primary method employed by Reaver involves initiating a series of deauthentication packets sent to the targeted Wi-Fi router. By flooding the router with these deauthentication packets, Reaver effectively forces the router to disconnect all devices connected to it. This disruption in the connection enables Reaver to exploit the weaknesses in the WPS protocol.

Once the router has disconnected all devices, Reaver proceeds to systematically attempt to establish a connection with the router by guessing the WPS PIN. The WPS PIN is typically an eight-digit numeric code used to authenticate devices to the router without the need for a lengthy passphrase. Reaver operates by cycling through a list of possible PIN combinations, attempting each one until it either successfully connects or exhausts all the options.